Landmine blast kills 8 Army men in JK

Srinagar, Jul 20: At least eight security personnel were killed and many injured in a landmine blast on Srinagar-Baramulla road on Saturday, July 19. Officials said that militants detonated a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED), planted on the roadside at Narbal at 1630 hrs when a bus carrying security personnel passed the area.

The powerful explosion ripped through the army bus, as it was moving in a convoy just outside Srinagar. The convoy was going to Chokibal which is the last civilian post before the Line of Control. The attack is the worst on the Army in the last five years. Kashmir-based terror organisation Hizbul Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The bus was totally damaged in the blast, killing 8 security personnel on the spot. Many were wounded in the blast, the sources added. Defence minister A K Antony condemned the attack and said the government would crush the evil designs of the terrorists. "This kind of cowardly attack will not deter the government from holding free and fair elections in the state," he said.

UNI